KentOnline

Tributes are being paid to a Faversham man following his death at just 47 from bowel cancer.

Carl Dobson's family are now raising money for Pilgrim's Hospice in Canterbury where he was cared for.

Also in today's podcast, two years after at least 27 asylum seekers died while trying to cross the Channel, their families say they still don't have answers.

The boat they were in capsized as they attempted to travel from France to Kent - but help didn't arrive for 12 hours. 

We've been speaking to Care4Calais who have worked with the families and published an open letter.

The Mayor of Sandwich has joined other politicians in pledging to support Pfizer workers who face losing their jobs.

The drugs giant announced 10 days ago that up to 500 jobs at their Discovery Park site in the town could go.

There's anger over plans to build a wellness retreat in Hythe.

If approved, the holiday cabins, a community building and car park would be on land off Spanton Crescent and Turnpike Hill. Hear what some local residents have to say.

Sam Lawrie has a roundup of everything going on in Kent this weekend.

And in sport, hear from the Gillingham head coach ahead of their trip to Tranmere Rovers this weekend.

The Gills will be looking to make it back-to-back wins after beating Salford City 3-1 last time out.

There has been a mixed reaction to a school's decision to have detentions on Saturdays.

Bosses at Towers School in Ashford say the punishment will be issued to any pupil who's removed from class four times in a single week.

A group of Kent doctors is calling for urgent action as they claim GP services are at tipping point.

A survey has found 60% of GPs in the county are reporting significant stress levels, and 8% are considering leaving the profession in the next five years.

Ofsted is warning the relationship between schools and parents is 'fractured', resulting in poor behaviour and attendance by pupils.

The education watchdog says things have deteriorated since the pandemic, and a quarter of children in Kent are now persistently absent.

Tributes are being paid to a mum from Maidstone, who died just weeks after being diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour.

Lorraine Janczewski began to feel dizzy and confused last month and specialists in London confirmed her condition was terminal.

Plans have been revealed to move a school in Northfleet to a new development.

Rosherville Primary will be relocating to Cable Wharf and expanding to take on three times as many pupils.

Elsewhere, the work being done by schools in Kent to improve their local environments has been recognised at an annual celebration.

The Green School Awards have been handed out just a week before world leaders meet at the Cop28 Summit in Dubai.

And, thousands of presents have donated to kmfm's Give a Gift campaign.

They will be giving toys to children who'll be spending the festive season in hospitals, care facilities or in less fortunate situations.

Teachers at the Oasis Academy on Sheppey say they've suffered death threats, racism and violence from students. 

Sites in Minster and Sheerness have been forced to close as staff take to picket lines following a number of frightening incidents. 

Also in today's podcast, after the backlash over a decision to house London families in a block of flats in Medway, the local authority will now be allowed to use some of the apartments as temporary accommodation. 

There had been concerns over the impact an influx of extra people would have on local services. 

Hear from a Kent councillor who says multiple road closures are costing businesses thousands of pounds in lost trade and leaving residents angry and frustrated. 

People living and working in Preston, near Canterbury, say they've been forced to endure almost a dozen traffic diversions in the last 12 months. 

A former bodybuilder from Ashford says she's desperate to take back control of her life as chronic illness leaves her bedbound and unable to walk. 

She has been searching for a diagnosis and has had to raise money to seek treatment overseas after being dismissed by doctors in the UK. 

And, a village which has been "isolated" after losing a vital bus service is now looking forward to a new transport link. 

However people are being urged to use the route from New Ash Green to Dartford as much as they can, as it's running for a year as a trial. 

A Deal man who died after falling down an uncovered manhole on a construction site has been remembered as having a heart of gold. 

The father-of-two was helping to build a new estate in Ramsgate and was working at night when the accident happened. 

Also in today's podcast, a Bexley woman is in a critical condition in hospital after being attacked by a dog. 

The victim was airlifted to hospital from a property in Belvedere yesterday morning. 

Hear from a Kent councillor about the pressures local authorities are under to find temporary accommodation for people who might otherwise be homeless. 

A representative from Gravesham Borough Council is among those calling for more government support. 

With housing an issue for councils across the county, a 550-homes housing development in Ashford has been given the green light despite drawing objections from nearby residents. 

The project has been criticised for not providing enough affordable housing. 

And, an Ashford thief says he was called an "absolute idiot" by his wife after stealing £100 worth of goods from The Range. 

A court has heard he initially denied the theft, despite being caught on CCTV. 

A Dover teenager who stabbed a man then bragged about it, has been locked up.

The victim had tried to help someone else who was being threatened and ended up having to be flown to a London hospital for treatment.

Also in today's podcast,  there's been an increase in the number of people across the south east being killed or seriously injured on the roads.

Figures given to KentOnline put the total at almost 5,000 for last year - and 10% up on 2021. We've been speaking to Lucy Straker from road safety charity Brake.

Videos are running on socials as part of a campaign encouraging young people in Kent to speak up if they see cases of antisocial behaviour.

'Don't Do Nothing' has been launched as part of anti-bullying week - alongside a police operation to tackle knife crime.

You can also hear from an incredible mum from Sevenoaks who donated part of her liver to save her young son.

Catherine Baker's boy George was diagnosed with a rare-cancer like condition called LCH when he was only two. She took him to the US to try a new treatment after chemotherapy failed and has been sharing their story.

Final preparations are under way to make sure Dartford's panto can go ahead this Christmas.

A new temporary venue's being built to replace the Orchard Theatre, which has been forced to close after RAAC concrete was found in the roof. Hear from the theatre director and one of the stars of Beauty and the Beast.

And in football, it was a win for Gillingham at the weekend.

They beat Salford City 3-1 at Priestfield - which was also a first home league game for new head coach Stephen Clemence.

A man has vowed to boycott a Canterbury pub after being accused by staff of taking drugs.

Alan Mannings had visited The Thomas Ingoldsby for a drink and some food and was told he wasn't going to be served. He's been speaking to reporter Millie Bowles.

Also in today's podcast, there are calls for urgent action to help a Kent girl who's in intensive care as she can't get the right treatment for her epilepsy.

Teagan Appleby's mum says she's suffered 19 days of constant seizures after struggling to get access to medicinal cannabis. The issue has now be raised in the commons by her local MP.

Kent's getting almost £150 million to repair our roads over the next 11 years.

The money's coming from redirected funds that were originally part of the HS2 rail project.

The Dartford tunnel celebrates its 60th birthday today.

It's the busiest river crossing in the country serving 150,000 vehicles a day. We've been speaking to a local historian with a strong family connection to the route.

Thousands of people headed out last night to see the Christmas lights switch on in Maidstone.

Garry and Chelsea from the breakfast show on our sister radio station kmfm were there along with the cast of the Hazlitt Theatre panto.

And in sport, Gillingham welcome Salford City to Priestfield in league 2 this weekend.

The Gills will be hoping to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat at Wrexham last Saturday - it's also a first home league game for new head coach Stephen Clemence

Roads in Faversham are set to be transformed to make it a 'walking and cycling town'.

The idea is to make the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists and encourage more residents and visitors to choose green travel options.  Hear from local democracy reporter Daniel Esson who wrote the story.

Also in today's podcast, a Kent woman is calling for more awareness of common breast cancer symptoms, after being diagnosed with two different types of the disease.

A recent survey's found 93% of women know a lump could be a warning sign, but the majority couldn't identify any others.

Southern Water's announced plans to spend £1.5 billion to try and stop waste water being released into the sea off Kent.

We've been speaking to the company and getting reaction from campaigners who are concerned about water bills going up.

Drivers have been caught on camera moving barriers to get around a road closure in Sittingbourne.

Gas works are being carried out on Church Road in Murston - but some are ignoring the restrictions.

And, Kevin Clifton says he can't wait to be a baddie in panto in Kent this Christmas.

The former Strictly pro is starring as Abanazer in Aladdin at the Marlowe in Canterbury and has been chatting to our What's On reporter Sam Lawrie.

The family of a Herne Bay man who was taken into custody after being pulled from a railway line have criticised police who gave him a train ticket after he was released.

Daniel Little went on to take his own life - now, his loved ones have issued a statement following an inquest.

Also on today's podcast, we've got reaction to a ruling by the Supreme Court that the government's Rwanda policy is unlawful.

Hear from the Dover based charity Care4Calais.

Pharmaceutical company Pfizer has been accused of sacrificing hard-working people after announcing plans for 500 job losses in Kent.

Staff at the Discovery Park in Sandwich are set to be made redundant as bosses look to save money. We've been speaking to the deputy leader of Dover District Council.

Footage has emerged of a man racially abusing and threatening a woman at Folkestone railway station.

A Southeastern employee had to step in following the incident on Armistice Day.

Medway Council bosses say they're working hard to balance the books and have reduced their overspend to £12 million - that's £5 million less than expected.

They will still have to make cuts to services to save money by February so they meet their budget. Hear from the council leader.

And in sport, Cray Valley are taking on Charlton Athletic in their FA Cup first round replay later.

The winner will take on Gillingham at Priestfield.

The family of Medway man who was found dead in The Netherlands have revealed his body was discovered almost two months ago.

22-year-old Liam Graham went missing after a car crash near Hoo back in July.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has repeated calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

There are growing concerns for doctors and patients at Gaza's biggest hospital which is in the middle of a war zone.

A Kent mum is taking part in a march to parliament today to call for a life-changing epilepsy treatment to be made available on the NHS.

Teagan Appleby from Aylesham can suffer up 300 seizures a day, and her mum is currently paying as much as £2,000 a month for cannabis medication.

Latest figures show 615 asylum seekers made the journey across the Channel in small boats on Sunday.

It comes as an investigation has found a growing number are being granted work permits because of delays processing their claims.

The man who oversees the police in Kent says there is still plenty he wants to achieve in the role.

Police and crime commissioners are elected every four years, with the next vote due to happen in 2024.

An NHS worker who was living in his car after struggling to afford a home to rent has now found somewhere to stay.

Bogumil Kusiba is staying in an Airbnb on an alpaca farm after someone heard his story and reached out to help.

Volunteers at a domestic abuse charity based in Swale and Medway have been given the Kings Award...

SATEDA has recieved the honour, which is the equivalent to an MBE and recognises work in the voluntary sector.

And in football, the manager of Chatham Town's women’s team has been telling us how he hopes to get more people in to watch games.

They beat Haywards Heath 4-2 in a dramatic first round FA Cup at the weekend.

A one-eyed biker from Herne Bay has appeared in court after threatening to kill another man's dog and beat him over the head with the carcass. 

A court heard a vicious exchange of WhatsApp messages that erupted after a row over a repair job to an exhaust pipe. 

Also in today's podcast, part of a road in Gravesend will be closed until 2025 while an old pub is turned into a care home. 

The Ascot Arms has sat empty for four years and now construction work is underway to build a three-storey facility in its place. 

Plans for a new SEN school in Gillingham have resurfaced, giving Medway students the chance to learn where they live. 

Parents have been calling for more suitable places with some youngsters missing out on classroom time due to a lack of provisions. 

There are fears the building of a new crematorium near Faversham has led to a decimation of wildlife. 

Villagers claim the site has caused severe damage to habitats in a nearby pond and council have now launched an investigation. 

And in football, defeat for Gillingham this week in Stephen Clemence's first time in charge of a League 2 game 

Hear his reaction to their 2 - nil away defeat.